Pencil



Aug. 9 1927.

- f F. FUREDY PENCIL Filed July 22, 1924 kISIS Patented Aug. Q, 1927.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK IUREDY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ABBIGNOR T BUIU'WICI NATIONAL BANK.

` mom Application Med July 22, 1924. Serial lo. 787,458.

My invention relates to pencils in which provision is made for adjustment and ready interchange of leads.

The general object of the invention 1s to 6 provide means for easily and quickly selectcator for the selector, by which the char-l acter of the selected leadcan readily be ascertained.

`A more particular object is to provide in convenient and economical form an improved lead carrier and selector, with improved means for guiding the selected lead to and from active position and for grippingor retaining it adjustably in active or projected position.'

A further object is to provide means for realizing the above'stated objects in a strucso ture of attractive and symmetrical form, and in which there is no necessity. for anyl outward or visible eccentric or other unsymmetrical portion, such as an eccentricor offset point ortiA portion.

A further o ject is to provide simple and easily manipulated devices for selecting and adjustably securing the desired lead.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sutliciently described .in connection with the following detail description 'of the accompan ing drawin s, which show certain exemp iymg em'bo iments of 'the invention. After considering l these' embodiments, persons skilled in the art will understand that many variations may be made, and I contemplate the employment of any structures that are proper y within the scope of the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of apencil embodying the invention in one form.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section at 2 2, Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is a section at 3 3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section at 4 4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is aV perspective view of the main positively in an ranged at a slight angle to the axis of the `tion of this tip is tapered, and the inner magazine, or rotatable element of the selector, separated from other parts.

Fi. 6 is an elevation of the complete pene Fig. 7 is a section at 7 7, Fig. 1.

. Fig. 8 is a section at 8 8, Fig. 1.

The body of the pencil is a tubular structure, and while in some cases. a single tube or casing may be employed, in some preferred cases, asv here shown, the casing may consist of an u per tube 1 and a lower tube' 2, these arts aving a screw connection 3. In the ower casing section a cylindrical lguilde piece 4 is placed with a close or press t, so that it will not become accidentally displaced, or if necessary it may be secured suitable way. In the guide piece is form al lon itudinal passage or guide channel 5 whic is preferably arcasing, so thatlts lower end is centered at tbe axis and its upper end is eccentric or is located at a point near one side of the`cas ing. The mouth 6 of the guide channel is desirably ared so that the lower edge of the channel o enin is practically Hush with the inner sur ace o tube 2.

A lead grip is-located at the lower end of the casing, and while the construction 'ofl this rip may vary considerably, in a preerre example it @constituted as follows: The lower end of' tube 2 has its thickness increased as at 7, by swaging or in any other suitable way, and in this thickened portion is .screwed a nip le 8, the lower part of which is formed mto longitudnally-divided spring grip or clutch lingers 9. A clampmg sleeve or tip 10 is screwed onthe out'- ward part of nipple 8, and the'outward porsurface 11 of the tapered portion co-operates with the grip fingers 9 to clamp them u n the lead which is in active sitien. e lower'innerportion of tube 2 1s formed with a surface 12 leading to the nip le bore andl arranged to proper y guide leal into it.

A combined magazine andv selector is provided, which is located in the upper part of the casin that is, substantiall within the tube l. his may be convenient y identilos fied as the main or active magazine so far as its lead holding and separating function is concerned, since it is provided to h'old and separate the leads .intended for active use, in distinctignppfrom another or auxiliary llo `comprises a head and the ma azine proper, or spacer, 16. The head inclu es an outer cylindrical portion 17 and an inner cylindrical portion 18, usually of small d1- ameter and dimensioned to be located with a bearing fit within the upper end of tube 1. The magazine or spacer 16 is desirably formed of sheet metal and while it may consist of separate strips angularly arranged,

preferably it is formed by folding @single -1 wide strip of thin sheet metal to the form clearly shown in Fi 5 and in the cross sections, 'Fi 2 an 3. VThe spacer thus consists of our equal spaced blades or partion walls 19 meeting at the center, which 1s at the axis of the casing. Each pair of blades or walls 19 form, in .conjunction with the adjacent casing wall, a pocket or compartment 20, in which one of the active leads, such as 21, is placed. In some cases the lower end of the magazine or spacer may be close to or rest upon 4the upper end of 'guide cylinder 4; but preferabl .a short cylindrical plug 25 is 'lnterpose lat thls oint.

The plu 25 is preferably arranged so that about onealf of it .Hts within the upper end of tube 2 and the other portion is contained within the lower end of tube 1 when the two tubes are screwed together as clearly shown in Fig. 1. At one side of the plug is an aperture 26 registering with the lower end of the guide bore or channel 5 in ide piece 4. The spacer has a close or pus fit in the upper end of tube 1 so that it can be readily removed and replaced when the tubes are' separated and will be retained with some firmness in tube 2, while tube 1 is being re placed in position and screwed down to orm a tight `joint. In the preferred construction therefore, the lower end of the main magazinel rests rotatably upon the upper surface of plug 25.

The magazine is retained in head 15 by transversely slotting the inner head portion 18, and the upper ends of the spacer blades and walls are inserted in these slots, as best ment ff' the head and spacer, but `loosely enough to `permit rotation of the head lin relation to tube l. y Indicating means are desirably rovided,

I which may consist simply of suita le index characters 4() placed on the surface of head Losanna portion 18 at points intermediate the spacer lades, or instead of definite characters,

.marking surfaces 41 may be provided as in Fig. 5. These marking surfaces may be simply cross-scored or roughened portions ,of the head surface adapted to receive-a pencil mark, as and for the purposes explained hereafter. The head 15 ma be of any suitable material for this an other purposes. If made ofq suitable -metals it may be adapted by properly forming the roughened surfaces 41 to receive and retain pencil marks, or it may be made of celluloid or other plastic materials which can be easily provided in any suitable color or of suitable composition or texture to permit proper marking for the purpose in view.

To co-o erate with the index marks on conveniently done by forming longitudinal spaced channels70 in the periphery of guide cylinder 4, and a spare lead such asl71 may be placed in each of the chambers or compartments thus formed. Access may be had to the spare leads when the casing'members -1 and 2 are separated, by removing the plug 25, whereupon the upper ends of thecham-v bers 70 are disclosed and any one or more of the spare leads may be removed or other spare leads may be inserted in the chambers.

The compartments 20 of the main maga- .eine are also loaded, or the leads may be changed, when the casing sections 1 and 2 are separated and plug 25 is removed, giviu'g access to the lower ends of theco'mpartments 20.

The upper head'portion 17 is desirably formed with a socket 50 to receive a rubber eraser 51, which may be detached and replaced in an obvious way. Desirably, the eraser is enclosed by a detachable cap 52, `which is desirably formed of sheet metal and engages over the outer head portion 17 with a, tight sliding fit, so that the magazine and selector 16 can be rotated by turning the cap.

The usual pocket clip 60 may be secured to casing portion 1.

Where index marks, such as 40, are placed on head ortion 18 in the manufacture of the pencil, t ese marks may be made to agree with or to signify in some way the character or color of the lead to be placed in the corresponding compartment 20. Thus the character B most clearly seen in Fig. 1, may be intended to identify a blue lead or crayon 21 in a corresponding compartment 20. Similarly other letters may be employed, such as R, to designate a red lead in another compartment,

:,esaone l Otherwise when index or marking spaces or surfaces 41, Fig. 5, are provided, the pncil user may placca significant mark upon each of the index surfaces and this is most conveniently done by making a mark with the lead or crayon which vis to be'inserted in the correspondin compartment. Thus, if a red crayon is to' e inserted in the compartment, that crayon may be used to make a red Y check'or other mark upon the corresponding surface 41, and so on, with respect to thel other leads or crayons. 4

All of the leads in the main magazine except the lead in one particular compartment 20, are located by the spacers/or blades 19, so that theirv lower ends rest on the 'solid upper One of the compartments, however, is located as shown in Fi 3, so that the lead therein registers wit aperture 26 in the plug, which in turn is in line with the guide hole or channel 5 in gulde cylinder 4. The selector is turned by rotating cap 52 until a cert-ain index mark appears at the aperture 45, indicating that the desired lead is positioned for movement throughA aperture 26 and passage 5.l The pencil is then held point downward and 'r' the lead falls through the guide channel and is directed into the bore of nipple 8. The screw tip 10 being loosened by unscrewing it, the lead passes between the separated grip.

fingers 9 until its point projects beyond the tip end, and the lead may then be positioned so that the proper amount projects, according to the desires of the user, by holding the pencil tip slightly above a surface, such as a table surface, or by retaining the lead with va finger, and the lead is then securely clamped in adjusted position by screwing up tip 10. A considerable range of move- 'ment of the clamp fingers is provided by the of movement or ad described arrangement, suitable for leads of varying diameters, although it is usually desirable to use leads of a standard size, such as are readily available on the market, and therefore in most cases no great range 'ustment of the grip fingers is necessary. imilarly the aperture in the main portion of nipple 8 may be made to quite closely fit a lead of standard size and to provide an adequate lateral su port for the portion of the lead within tlie pencilbody, although lthis is not essential, and in some cases considerable clearance. may be provided to accommodate leads of considerably greater diameter, and such an arrangement is shown in the drawing.

Asl the lead is worn or broken in use, it

' other color, the active lead is returned to its magazine compartment by inverting the pencil and`loosening the screw tip, whereupon the lead will drop back through passage 5 and aperture 26 into its compartment, which is usually ready to receive it, since, of course, it is not necessary to reposition the act-ive magazine while'any lead is in position for use.

The active magazine or selector may then be repositioned to select another lead, which may be adjusted and clamped for use in the manner previously described.

.It is, of course, desirable to locate only one lead in each compartment. of the active magazine, and while provision is here made for only four active leads, obviously a greater vnumber of compartments may be provided 'While not necessary 1n all cases, means may be provided to'aid in locating the selector magazine in any of its operative positions. For this purpose, as shown in Fig. 7, the cylindrical bod 18 of the selector head may be provide near its upper end with a socket l18a in which a spring 18J is located to urge yieldingly outward a plunger 18c having a rounded outer end. This end engages against the inward periphery of the shallow bead or flange 31 formed in the upper end of casing tube 1, and with shallow rounded notchesv 31a formed in the flange, the ositions of these notches corresponding to iil'erent adjustable positions of the selector magazine 16. As cap 52 is turned, the plunger slips into the different shallow notches 3la and by the sense of feeling the user can readily detect the correct location of the selector for the discharge of a lead from any one of the compartments through tube 5 to the tip. It is also desirable in some cases to provide means for completely closing the lower end of the selector magazine and to prevent the discharge of leads therefrom to the tip, or the .return of a lead from the tip through passage 5 to the active magazine. For this purpose, as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, a circular plate 80 is rotatably located on top of the plug 25. The plate 10. At any time when it is desired to los y lll) has an aperture 81 which registers, when the magazine and aperture 26 or assa e 5, it is i r only necessar` to turn ring 8 so t at aperture I81 of p ate 80 is out of registry with aperture 26, as shown in Fig. 6. It 1s then impossible for leads to pass to or from the active magazine and inadvertent discharge of a lead to passage 5 is thus prevented and similarly the inadvertent return of a lead to the Wrongl compartment of the magazine.

` its ends, a rotary magazine having a pluals' "'rality of lead compartments and located in the casin above the plug, a member formed to gni ing channel in the casing below the plug, said member being rovided with longitudlnal chambers to ho d spare leads, the plu beingprovided with an aperture aligne with said diagonal lead guide channel and 'arran ed to permit movement of a lead to and rom a magazine compartment selectively centered at said aperture, the plug also acting as a removable closure for the spare lead chambers, and a lead rip substantially at the tip of the casing an arranged to receive a lead from said lead guiding channel and adjustably clamp or release the lead.

- 2. A pencil comprising a tubular casing,4

a plug in the casing at a point intermediate its ends, a rotary magazine having a plurality of lead compartments and located in the casing above the lug, a member formed to provide a longitudinal diagonal lead guiding channel in the casing below the plug,

' said member being provided with spaced l longitudinal chambers to receive spare leads,

sai chambers being arranged in peripheral portions of said member which are not occupied by the above mentionedlead passage, the plug being rovided with an aperture aligned with sai lead passage and arranged to permit movement o a lead to and from a magazine compartment substantially centered at said aperture and also serving as a removable closure for said spare lead chambers, and a lead grip substantially at the tip of` the casing and arranged to receive a' lead from said passage and adjustably clamp or, release it.V

3. A pencil comprising a two-part tubular casing, the parts havin a connection approximately at the longitu inal center of the pencil, a magazine for active leads rotatively mounted in the upper casing section and to permit the state lead rovi e alongitudinal, diagonal lead rovicling spaced pockets for a plurality of y eads, a member located in the lower casin ortion and having a lon itudial, incline cad passage, and a remova le spacing plug Within the casing intermediate said member andthe lower end of the magazine, said spacing plug having an aperture coinciding with said lead passage and a ma azine pocket selectively positioned in relation' to said aperture.

4. A pencil comprising a two-part tubular casing, the parts having a connection approximately at the lon itudinal center of the pencil, a magazine or active leads rotatively mounted in thel upper casing section and providing spaced pockets for a plurality of leads, a member located in the lower casclined lead passage, and a removable spacing plug Within the casing intermediate said member and the lower end of the magazine, said spacing plug having an aperture coin- ,ciding with .said leadv passage and a magazine pocket selectively' positioned in relation to said aperture, the magazine pockets beinv accessible for removal or replacement o? leads upon removal of said spacing plug.

5. A pencil comprising a two-part tubular casing, the parts having a connection approximately at the lon itudinal center of the pencil, a magazine ger active leads rotatively mounted in the upper casing sect-ion and providin spaced spockets for a plurality of lea s, a member located in the lower casing portion and having a longitu dinal, inclined lead passage, said member ing portion and having a longitudinal, in-

having spated longitudinal compartments to receive spare leads, and a removable spacing plug within the casing intermediate said member and the lower end of the magazine, said spacing plug having an aperture coinciding with said lead passage and a ma ai zine pocket selectively positioned in relatlon to sald aperture. p

6. A pencil comprising a two-part tubular casing, the parts having a connection approximately at the lon 'tudinal center of thepencil, a magazine or active leads roi tatively mounted in the u per casing section and providing s aced poc ets for a plurality of leads, a mem er located in the lower casing portion and having alongitudinal, inclined lead passage, said member having spaced longitudinal compartments to receive spare leads, and a removable spacing plug within the casing intermediate said member and the lower end of the magazine, said spacing plug having an aperture coinciding with. said lead passage and a magazine pocket selectively positioned in'relation to said aperture,'the lspare lead pockets being accessible for removal and replacement of.

leads upon removal of said spacing plug.

7. A, pencil comprising a casing, an active lead magazine having a plurality of compartments and rotatably located in an upper plate having an operating member exteriorly part of the casing, a passage in the lower located on the casing by which it may be ropart of the casing to'conduct leads from the, tated. 10 active magazine to the tip of the pencil, and Signed at New York city, in the county of 5 a rotatable late having an aperture adapted New York and State 0f New York this 18th to be broug t into and out of registry with day of July, A. D. 1924. A said passage to control lead movements, said FRANK-FUREDY 

